Formal Grievance - going back to work.

[Titslikepicassos]

Just looking for advice - I have a large thread on AIBU about my line manager attempting to redeploy me after Mat leave and when that failed telling me that the shift pattern they have given me (and I have arranged child care for) no longer works as they need a manager on site at all times. I’ve put in a flexible working request and have a formal grievance hearing date in early august but as it stands, I’m due back to work in September but have no idea if I can go back as they don’t want me in on the days they originally asked.

Do I need to wait for the grievance procedure to be finished or can I ask for some answers prior to this?

Have you included your outcome in your grievance?

Without knowing the content of your grievance or what the questions are that you want answers to, it's very hard to say.

Can you give some more details?

It sounds like your grievance is because they don't want you to work the same shift as you did before, but you're saying you can't change your shift due to childcare responsibilities. It now means you're uncertain when to present yourself for work when you are due to return from mat leave in Sept.

I would definitely get in touch with them (by email so it's in writing) well in advance of your due date to return to work - irrespective of whether they have processed your grievance. It is reasonable for you to ask any questions, clarify your situation and when you are planning to return to give them an opportunity to say they agree with the date or prooose a different date for return.

Grievances can take ages to process (and sometimes an organisation will deliberately drag their heels to be awkward or if they want to take the wind out your sails). By being proactive in confirming your date and asking relevant questions, you are taking a proactive approach. There no rule against asking questions!

When did you put in your flexible work request?

Thanks all.

@daisychain01 - that’s just about it. My boss gave me my hours, I sorted childcare prior to covid, then my boss decided they wanted a manager in everyday (impossible without recruitment anyway).

@killerofmen - flexible working request went in about 2 months ago. Late, because they tried to tell a me a verbal conversation was the same as a statutory request. I haven’t heard anything at all.

@Oxfordblue - other than asking that my boss honours the hours I was asked to do, I haven’t included any outcomes in my grievance.

The first thing you need to do when raising a grievance is follow the process. Have you got a copy of your grievance policy?
In there it should state how to about it. Yes they will always try to approach issues informally, however all grievance should be in writing .
Assuming you've put your grievance in writing, you should have had a written response acknowledging this & also a meeting to discuss.
Time frames for this should be in the policy.
Grievances should not go on forever & timeframes should be documented in the policy.
Has all the previous correspondence been written ie as paper trail?
I'll see if I can find your other post.

Unfortunately no arrangements in the workplace have a guarantee of permanence. Whilst it's shit that your boss changed her mind, she is entitled to do so if the business needs change. You're also entitled to raise it via a grievance procedure but I would not be surprised if that is the outcome.

titslikepicassos if you reply, I'll try to give you some advice.

Hopefully you haven't recorded any conversations etc.

"The role has not been redundant, my Mat cover is someone who was below me and now acting up"

You need evidence of this ^^

Thanks all.

I followed the grievance procedure completely as well as having a fairly large amount of written records.

There was a lot of info in AIbU post.

Starting from the bottom, you’re due to return to work in September, which was agreed in writing, with hours etc?

Your boss has recently contacted you stating, these hours are no longer possible & you must work at another site, due to ‘company policy’? Did they state why?
You don’t want to travel as 1.5 hrs, the policy is flaking, why can’t DP move?
Have you had a response to your flexible working yet?
You’ve had a letter back with a grievance meeting in early August to discuss this?

Thanks @Oxfordblue

Yes returning in September. My new hours were agreed verbally but I have my meeting notes. Also, in a further meeting with HR she agreed those were the hours she had asked me to do.

I was contacted before that to tell me I would need to find a new role in the company due to my relationship with my partner who worked for a different part of the company in a different building . HR ‘fixed’ this with a risk assessment because it was clear the policy didn’t apply to us at all. So no longer an issue.

No reply to my flexible working request, no meeting to discuss it as per policy. I presume they are just waiting for the grievance hearing to be done with.

You should email HR back on Monday & state you had agreed hours, which your manager stated were no longer appropriate (not sure why?) you could state you don't understand the reasoning.
If your policy states they should have replied within x days/weeks, add that.
I think there may be some overlap as this is what your grievance is about? But even so, you should have had a written response.
I'm not sure if I've completely understood your other post, but are they asking to work from another site which made childcare difficult or is this resolved now?
Just check your polices & the time frames & keep emotion out of it.
Let me know if I'm slightly off with my understanding.
(Also is this baby 1 or 2 for you?)

Just want to add - type up your meeting notes, date & time them, in a .pdf letter format & send to your manager, with a covering email & copy HR. Cover your back & be transparent.